Accordion microphone controls



Sept. 25, 1956 E. H. TERLINDE 2,764,051

ACCORDION MICROPHONE CONTROLS Filed May 31. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 v 4. F .4 7 0 f'dwar'd h, Tar/male BY QGW E X%EY Sept. 25, 1956 E. H. TERLINDE 2,764,051

ACCORDION MICROPHONE CONTROLS Filed May 51. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvEN roR Edward H Tar/inde /7 BY QM mBug ATTORNEY United States Patent ACCORDION MICROPHONE CONTROLS Edward H. Terlinde, St. Paul, Minn.

Application May 31, 1952, Serial No. 290,990

4 Claims. (Cl. 84-1.04)

This invention relates to an improvement in accordion microphone controls and deals particularly with a means of supporting the tone and volume control knobs used in the microphone circuit.

During recent years it has become increasingly popular to equip accordions with microphones by means of which the sound may be amplified. These microphones are often times located within the body of the accordion adjacent to the reed blocks and usually within the bellows of the accordion. One such arrangement is illustrated in my previous Patent No. 2,577,288, issued December 4, 1951, for Accordion Microphone.

Accordion microphones of the type in question are usually wired to an amplifier which delivers the proper impulses to a loud speaker to provide an amplified tone. In some instances, these amplifiers are positioned closely adjacent to the player so that the player may control the tone and volume by actuating the controls on the amplifier. However, where the accordionist desires more freedom of action, the volume and tone controls have sometimes been attached to the straps or harness extending over the shoulders of the player. Such an arrangement requires that the connecting wires extend along the flexible strap where the flexing of the straps have a tendency to place a strain upon the wires and adding to the bulk and clumsiness of the harness. The present invention is designed to eliminate previous difficulties and to provide a mounting for any such control knobs in close proximity to the hand of the operator. Accordions differ materially in detail, shape and construction. Most accordions diifer in the size, position and construction of the grill work through which the sounds are emitted. The frame work of the accordions also differ with various styles. It is therefore diiiicult to provide a control mounting which is suitable for accordions of all types.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a control support which is designed to-fit virtually any accordion construction. As a result one type of mounting is suitable for virtually any accordion and the unit may accordingly be sold to owners of any type of accordion.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a terminal to which the cord for securing the microphone to the amplifier may be attached. This terminal is designed for attachment to the accordion frame closely adjacent to one end of the bellows. All accordions are provided with a solid frame member at each end of the bellows to which the bellows is attached. Thus the terminal mounting may be secured to any type of accordion with which I am familiar with a minimum of difficulty.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an elongated strip of ductile metal which is sufficiently rigid to support the terminal box in any desired position and yet may be bent with sufficient ease so that the owner of the accordion may bend the strip intermediate its ends. The terminal is supported at one end of the strip and a control box is supported at the opposite end thereof. The control box is designed to contain a volume control, a tone control, or both such controls. As a result the control box may be bent to right angular position to overlie the grill work located above the key board and in position for easy actuation by the hand used on the key board.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of an elongated strip preferably of ductile metal which may serve as a conduit for the control wires extending longitudinally of the strip. Means are provided for attaching the control wires to the strip to bend with the strip as it is bent.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a strip which may include one or more reinforcing ribs or beads suitable for containing the control wires. In the event one or more reinforcing ribs are used, the wires may be inserted in the concave side of these grooves and covered over with an adhesive coated tape or the like. In the event marginal beads are provided along opposite longitudinal edges of the strip, the wires may be threaded through these beads and enclosed thereby.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an accordion showing the microphone control attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the control before attachment to an accordion.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the control illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail portion of the control box.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a short section of a modified form of connecting strip.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the modified form of microphone control.

Figure 7 is an elevation view of a portion of an accordion, a part thereof being broken away to indicate the manner in which the control of Figure 6 is attached.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of control attaching hook.

The accordion is indicated in general by the letter A. The accordion A may be made in any preferred manner, but is shown as including a treble portion 14) and a base portion 11 connected by a bellows 12. The treble portion 10 includes an inclined key board base 13 over which are supported a series of keys similar to those used .on a piano, the keys being designated in general by the numeral 14. The outer wall 15, and upper wall 16 of the accordion, as it is viewed in Figure l, are partially cut away to provide apertures which are normally closed .by a grill work 17. The grill work 17 ordinarily includes 'a metal or plastic scroll arrangement overlying a piece of fabric or the like through which the sounds may emanate. A relatively solid frame portion 19 is provided on the treble portion adjacent to the bellows 12 and to which the end of the bellows is detachably secured.

The base portion 11 includes an inclined keyboard 20 through which a series of chord actuating buttons 21 project. Each of these buttons controls a base key or a base chord. An aperture is usually provided in the lower Wall of the accordion, not visible in Figure 1, through which sounds from the base reed blocks may emanate. A strap usually extends across the bottom wall to accommodate the left hand of the player between the strap and the bottom wall of the accordion so that the end portion of the accordion may be controlled and moved relative to the treble portion which normally remains substantially still.

A supporting harness is shown secured to the treble section of the accordion to support the accordion when the straps are extended over the shoulders of the player. Most of the harness has been broken away, as it is unimportant in the present invention. The microphone and control may beinounted at either or both sections of the accordion.

The microphone is indicated in dotted outline at B in Figure l of the drawings. This microphone may be inserted in any desired position to pick up the sounds emanating from the reed blocks. In preferred form the microphone B is positioned within the bellows 1 2 and may be mounted in any suitable manner to the accordion reed blocks. While the reed blocks are not indicated in detail, one is indicated in dotted outline at 22 and the microphone B is shown attached to the reed blocks 22 connected to the treble end of the accordion. The control attachment C is indicated in Figures 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings. .The attachment C includes an elongated strip 23 of ductile metal or equivalent material which is sufliciently stifi to retain its form and to support the con trol mechanism and yet which may be bent into right angular relation about a relatively long radius without breaking. The attachment strip 23 includes an enlarged end 24 which is slightly concave on its undersurface and is convex along its upper surface. An externally threaded sleeve 25 is provided with a reduced diameter shank 26 projecting from one end thereof. This shank 26 extends through an aperture '27 in the enlargement 24 and is riveted over or otherwise secured in place to support the threaded sleeve 25 projecting from the convex side of the enlargement 24. An insulation sleeve 29 is supported within the threaded sleeve 25 and an axial contact 30 is insulated from the outer sleeve 25 by the insulation sleeve. The central contact 30 is designed to engage a cooperable contact within an internally threaded connector 31, while the threaded sleeve 25 is designed to form electrical connection with the sleeve forming a part of the connector 31. The sleeve and the center contact may connect with a pair of wires within the cable 32 extending to the amplifier, not illustrated, or the cable 32 may comprise a shielded cable having a single conductor 33 and an outer metallic shield 34.

The end of the strip 23 opposite the enlargement 24 is provided with an elongated rectangular enlargement 35 which forms the base of the control housing. The control housing comprises a generally rectangular box-like structure having a top panel 36, side wall panels such as 37, and end wall panels such as 39, and an openlower end. Apertures in the top panel 36 accommodate fasten-ing screws 41 which extend into threaded apertures 42 in the enlargement 35. A pair of apertures 43 and 44 are provided in the panel '36 to accommodate the operating shanks of a pair of potentiometers which serve as the volume and tone controls. Knobs 45 and 46 are supported on the potentiometer shanks to provide means of rota-ting the shanks. The potentiometers are not illustrated as they are well known in the art and the form and construction thereof is not an important part of the present invention. If either of the controls is considered unnecessary, the control operating knob and its aperture may be omitted.

A tongue or ear 47 projects from the end of the enlargernent 35 and a similar ear 49 is defined by cut lines on the opposite side of the enlargement 42, the cut lines defining a potential ear which may be struck from the plane of the remainder of the strip. The ears 47 and 49 may be bent into otf-set relation to extend into the grill work or into the grill frame to assist in steadying the control box with respect to the accordion. However, the strip is usually possessed of sufficient stiffness to sup- .port the control box without additional fastening and the cars 47 and 49 serve mainly to prevent any movement during the operation of the control knobs.

The wires which extend from the control box to the opposite end of the strip may be supported in any of several ways. In the construction shown in Figures 2 through 4 of the drawings, the strip 23 is provided with beaded edges 50 and 51 extending along the longitudinal edges of the strip. These beaded edges 50 and 51 are preferably provided with a series of spaced notches 52 therein which extend through the beaded edge to substantially the undersurface of the strip 23. These notches 52 simplify the operation of bending the strip, the bending operation merely closing the notches on the undersurface of the strip. The beaded edges 59 and 51 are of proper internal size to accommodate the wires 53 and 54 which extend from one end of the strip to the other. The beaded edges add rigidity to the strip, except at the notched portions near the center of the strip, the notched portions being of sufiicient length to permit the bending of the strip at a desired point. Obviously the exact point of bend varies in various accordions and may be slightly on one side of the center of the length of the strip in one construction and near the opposite end of the strip in other constructions.

Usually only two wires are required in connecting the microphone and its controls to each other and to the amplifier. If additional wires are required, the strip itself may serve as a ground wire and the number of contacts in the connector may be changed. One of the controls is usually mounted between the microphone input wire and the ground lead which comprises the sleeve 25 and the strip 23 so that one wire such as 53 may extend from the control box to the microphone. The other terminal of the microphone is connected usually through a cable shield to the ground terminal or body of the strip 23. The other control usually leads from a variable tap on the first potentiometer to the variable tap on the second potentiometer through a fixed condenser. A second terminal of the second potentiometer is grounded. The fixed condenser and the movable arm of the first potentiometer lead through the second wire 54 to the center contact 30 leading to the amplifier.

The concave arrangement 24 is provided with a plurality of apertures 58 in angularly spaced relation about the connector 25. These apertures 62 are designed to accommodate mounting screws or bolts which extend into the solid frame 19 adjacent to the bellows end. The microphone wires extend beyond the straight end of the enlargement 24 and extend between the end of the bellows 12 and the frame 19 into the interior of thebellows to the microphone B.

In Figures 5 through 7 of the drawings I disclose a modified form of construction which in some respects is preferable to the previously described construction, particularly in cost of production. The attachment D is in general similar to the attachment C. It comprises an elongated strip 55 of ductile metal having a rectangular enlargement 56 at one end thereof. An enlargement 57 is provided near the opposite end of the strip. A threaded connector 59, or other suitable connector, is supported at the enlargement 57. The connector 59 is designed to provide an electrical connection with a suitable cord eading to the amplifier.

The strip 55 is provided with an upwardly extending rib 60 forming a channel in the undersurface of the strip. A rectangular box like control housing 61 similar to the housing previously described is supported at the enlarged end 56. The walls of the housing 61 may be crimped to the strip end 56 as indicated at 62 to hold the structure assembled.

The conductors 63 and 64 leading from the controls are positioned within the channel 60. A covering of pressure sensitive electrical tape, or other suitable flexible material, is indicated at 65 bridging the channel 60 and enclosing the conductors 63 and 64. The conductors lead to controls such as potentiometers enclosed within the housing 61 and actuated by knobs 66 and 67 on shafts projecting through the housing cover.

A pair of fingers 69 extend beyond the enlargement 57 and may be bent into hook shape to receive a portion of the sound box covering 70. By extending between the covering 70 and the bellows frame 71, the control support D may be securely attached to the accordion.

In order to support the other end 56 of the strip 55, a hook 72 may be adjustably connected to the enlargement 56. The hook 72 is slotted at 73 for accommodation of a clamping screw 74 which holds the hook in adjusted position.

The strip 55 may be mounted in place, and bent intermediate its ends to follow the contour of the accordion body. As a result, the control may be positioned near either hand of the player, or a separate control and microphone may be provided for each reed block for separate pick up of the base and treble sounds.

in accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my accordion microphone controls, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made Within the scope of the following claims Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An accordion including a base portion, a treble portion, and a connecting bellows, a key board forming a part of said treble portion and projecting from the remainder thereof, a rectangular frame portion forming a part of said treble portion to which an end of said bellows is detachabiy secured, an elongated microphone control support including a mounting end secured to said frame portion at a point adjoining said bellows, a grill forming a part of said treble portion having a grill surface angularly related to, but adjacent to, said keyboard and angularly related to the portion of the frame to which said mounting end is secured, said microphone control support including an arm portion extending from said mounting end generally parallel to the frame surface to which said mounting end is secured, said arm having an end bent to overlie said grill surface, said arm comprising a strip of flexible ductile material of sufficient stiffness to retain a bent position and to support said microphone control from said mounting end, a microphone sound control secured to the end of said arm overlying said grill surface, a connecting adapter secured to said mounting end, and conductors connecting said adapter and said control.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including a microphone within said bellows, and a conductor connecting said microphone and said control and adapter and extending between said bellows and said frame.

3. A microphone control support for attachment to an accordion and for use with an accordion microphone including in combination an elongated strip of flexible ductile material of suflicient stiffness to retain a bent position after attachment, a mounting member at one end of said strip designed for attachment to the block section of the frame of the accordion, a control housing supported at the other end of the strip, an accordion sounding control supported Within said housing, conductors extending along said strip from said sounding control to the mounting end thereof, a connecting adapter supported by said mounting end, said strip including an elongated rib in which said conductors are positioned, and a covering for enclosing said connecting wires.

4. A microphone control support for attachment to an accordion and for use with an accordion microphone including in combination an elongated strip of flexible ductile material of suflicient stiffness to retain a bent position after attachment, a mounting member at one end of said strip designed for attachment to the block section of the frame of the accordion, a control housing supported at the other end of the strip, an accordion sounding control supported within said housing, conductors extending along said strip from said sounding control to the mounting end thereof, a connecting adapter supported by said mounting end, said strip including an elongated hollow rib extending longitudinally of said strip and within which said conductors are positioned, and a fiat covering member bridging the hollow side of said rib and enclosing said conductors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,547,580 Graftstrom July 28, 1925 1,620,306 Wakefield et al. Mar. 8, 1927 1,672,317 Hill June 5, 1928 1,784,217 Berry Dec. 9, 1930 2,254,068 Frank Aug. 26, 1941 2,356,368 Zaccagnino Aug. 22, 1944 2,439,551 Teikowski Apr. 13, 1948 2,460,408 Babicky Feb. 1, 1949 2,575,142 Sorkin Nov. 13, 1951 2,577,288 Terlinde Dec. 4, 1951 2,646,496 Takach July 21, 1953 

